Casing for universal joints for automobiles.



J. G. HEASL'ET. GASING FOB. UNIVERSAL JOIN TS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27 Patented Apr. 23, 1912 JAM Es mHEAsLE T, or DETROIT,

"MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF r ALTER E.

p A w rmmnnnsor PONTIAQ'MICHIGAN.

To all whom "it may concern: I

-' Be it knownth'at I, JAMEsG. HEAsLE'r,

a cltizen oftheUnited States, resident of Detroit, county of \Vayne, and State of Michigam ha've invented a ne afictuseful Improvement in Casings-0; Universal Joints for Automobiles, of which the 01- lowing .is' a specification, the principle of theinvention being herei'nexplained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying thatprinciple, so as to distinguish it from other Inventions.

-My invention has reference to torque tube joints for automobile's, and more particularlyto a movable connection which, while fully meeting all the practical demands for flexibility, shall permit of being more readily assembled and disassembled than was, {soifar as I -am aware, heretofore possible.

poses which this invention has for an object and toward the accomplishment of which It is, then, the fulfilmentof these two purit consists of means hereinafter fully described and claims.

particularly pointed out in the The *annere d v drawing and the fol.-

lowing'description set forth in detail one closed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in whloh the principle of my invention may be applied.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 is a horizontal-section of a torque tube joint 'embodyingi'my invention. Fig. 2 is a ver tical section on line 11-11 of Fig. 1, look ingin the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in which like letters. andnumerals of reference refer to 'like' parts throughout, a portion of the frame A, in this instance one of the cross-members thereof, sufiicient for the purpose of indi- .cating how the structure as a whole may be attached thereto, is represented in dotted lines. ,Member B, also shown in dotted lines, connects with the engine crankshaft, not shown, as will be readily understood,

. and this member is interiorly connected with mode of carrying out my invention, the dis spherical shape.

CASING FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

obvious to those skilled in the art. A main longitudinal housing D incloses the shaft throughout the greater portion of its lehgth, and issupported at one end by the bearing cup 0', as will be readily understood.

A cup-shaped inclosing cap E provided with an annular flange e,'b v means of which it may be secured at a' sufficient number of I Patented Apr. 23, 1912...; f; A licationfiled hily 27, 1910. Serial No. 574,131.

points to the frame A, is adapted to serve as a housing for approximately one-half of the universal joint as shown. A spherical casing Fis likewise provided withan annular flange f, of corresponding size. These flanges are adapted to abut each other,-and thus permit of being simultaneously fas tened to the frame by suitable bolts f if. The casing F is also preferably of spherical shape and, fastened as stated, coperates with the cap-E to effect with it a close and hired joint. Interiorly adjacent of this casing'F, and extending beyond the edge thereof. is a housing member G of corresponding Exteriorly adjacent to the spherical casing 1* and having its one end of like curvature as this casing and the underlying housing G, isanother housing member H. These two housing members G and H conforming, then, to opposite sides of the casing, inclose the latter, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1., A plurality ofbolts h h, having spring washers h it connect these two housing members so as to yieldingly clamp the casing F bet-ween them.

As now becomes obvious, the loosening of the bolts 7 f and h it will permit a ready and simple disassembling for the purpose of repair or cleansing of the parts.

It should be noted that in normal position,

that is with the member B and shaft C in substantial alinement, the annular edge f of the casing will be a sufiicient distance both from the bolts fand from the two oppositely disposed edges 9* and 72. to safely permlt of any relative movement between them within the range of practical probability.

The operation of the construction is now manifestly as follows :.''Any movement, either on thepart of the frame A as directly transmitted to the casing F, or on the part of the housing member D as directly transmitted to the spherical housing H, will cause a relative sliding of the casing be: 7

tween the housing members G and H, and,

in fact, in any direction Within the pre-' scribed limits.

Having -fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 In a casing for universal joints, a cas ing member, a two sectioned housing cooperating therewith, a plurality of bolts connecting said seotions,and resilient means cooperating. with said bolts and one of said sections whereby said casing member and said housing may be moved relative to each other. i

2. In acasing for universal joints, the combination of a fixed casing member, a housing. member cooperating interiorly with said casing member, a second housing member cooperating exteriorlywlth said caslng member, bolts connecting said housing members and spring washers cooperating with said bolts and the outer housmg member 'whereby said housing members may be moved relative to said casing member.

3. In a casing for universal joints, the combination of a frame,a spherical casing member fixed to said frame, a spherical housing member interiorly adjacent and exand resilient means cooperating with said bolts and one of said housing members whereby said housing member may be moved relative to said casing member.

4. In a casing for universal joints, the 'com- 7 bination of a frame, a cap member secured to said frame, a caslng member secured to'said frame and -capand cooperating with: the

latter, a two sectioned housing member cooperating w th'saidcasing member; spaced apart members passing radially through said housing sections, and resilient means cooperatmg with said spaced-apart members and one of said houslngsectlons -.wherebysa1d casing member andhousing sections maybe moved relativeto each other.

Signed by me,- this 26th day of July, 1910. a

' JAMES G; HEASLET.

At-t'ested by a i JAMES E. Srnncnn, FRANK A. BATES. 

